Review: ‘Justice League’ No. 1 well worth a read

Well holy highly-publicized, go-for-broke revamps, Batman. Not only has Justice League No. 1 pulled in more new faces and old fans to comic shops, the first issue in DC Comics’ ambitious New 52 relaunch actually lives up to the hype with a quite good debut that establishes the new DC Universe as a more modern, more believable setting for its familiar but revitalized heroes.

I won’t get into any spoilers here, mostly because there really isn’t anything too shocking to spoil. Justice League No. 1 unfolds five years in the past, with Batman and Green Lantern meeting again for the first time. There’s a familiar sense of awe at the sight of a costumed crusader soaring through the air, only now there’s a more contemporary scrutiny and even distrust that makes for a more realistic tableau. The issue is anything but self-contained and doesn’t reveal the whole JL at once (DC does want you to pick up the next one, you know) but new and old readers alike should still enjoy the action-packed repertoire between Batman and Green Lantern as well as the last page promise for the next issue.

As for how those new-old heroes come across in the DCnU, Batman and Green Lantern might sport more 21st century Kevlar-like outfits instead of Silver Age spandex but their timeless essence and personalities remain firmly intact. Batman’s still a gruff, shadow-loving crimefighter who doesn’t trust metahumans any further than he can throw them and Green Lantern’s still a cocky but noble space cop who’ll happily smack fear in the face with a giant green fist from his power ring. They just look and sound more like they belong in the now.

Really, the more things seem to have changed with the New 52 the more they actually seem the same. And that’s a good thing because Justice League No. 1 reads less like a relaunch and more like a refresh — something very recognizable but also noticeably brighter, livelier and even necessary. Credit that to the dynamic duo behind the panels — writer/DC chief creative officer Geoff Johns and artist/DC co-publisher Jim Lee. Both display an obvious rejuvenation of their own respective talents without ever resorting to gimmicky shock and awe or jarring newness for newness’ sake.

Justice League No. 1 is but a small beginning to a much larger story in its own title, and on a grander scale a symbolic prologue to the unfolding New 52 saga that awaits DC within as well as behind its many comic pages. At least DC’s off to a good start. They just made buying a comic book feel like a whole new kind of familiar, fun journey. And while the New 52 debut with Justice League doesn’t leap tall buildings in a single issue, it clearly and confidently aims at soaring up, up and away.